What If Hewlett And Packard Had Started A Band Instead?... Denton Texas' Music Scene As Economic Cluster And Its Broader Implications For The City's Economy

Abstract

A growing body of research examines the production processes, economic activity, and symbolic value of the arts in the urban economy. This research often broadly considers all arts disciplines together, masking structural and operational differences amongst them. Research detailing popular music and its relationship with the urban economy is minimal. Prior research tangentially acknowledges that local music scenes function as economic clusters, but little detailing of their dynamics as such exists. The bulk of attention is paid to how these clusters operate in the framework of the broader music industry and not how they develop or impact their surrounding urban economic landscapes. Denton, Texas is a city of just over 100,000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region and home to an internationally recognized music scene.This dissertation examines Denton's music scene through qualitative research and answers the question, does Denton's music scene operate as an economic cluster? Answering the overarching research question while analyzing the structural make-up of Denton's music scene will offer other researchers a basis to define their claims of clustering when referencing the economic dynamics of music scenes, address the existing research gap that leaves unexplored the economic development value of music scenes, and add to the growing body of literature detailing the necessary conditions for a music scene to develop - all of which will help policymakers better address their local music scenes. In addition, this research will also further the discourse concerning appropriate methodologies to use in assessing cultural sector employment.